Ok time to tackle cash games

Some new things happened to me this month. The first thing is I got a Job : )The second thing is that I am taking a new direction in poker. I am twitching from SNG's and Tournaments to tackle cash games. The main reason is to really learn how to play deep stack poker. The components of a player who is able to crush tournaments is vast. First you have to know the basics, I got that down for sure. Second you have to know how to play a short stack, to many times in Tournaments you end up with a short stack so knowing how to play short stack profitably is very important. Third and most important you have to understand deep stack play. This is the most important because it is a complex skill that few players have, but is 100% needed in order to win tournaments. All the great players we know are very very good deep stack players.



My goals for improving my deep stack play. 1st I will play 50,000 hands of NL 9man cash games. I will use twice the recommended bankroll guide lines in order to prevent going broke during this period and losing my focus do to losing money( I am new to cash thats all I need is a huge down swing to start off with). 2nd I will reevaluate my data using leak buster and see where I still need to fix some leaks. Then I will play another 50,000 hands and reevaluate, if I am still leaking bad I will wash rinse and repeat.

I am switching to cash because working on deep stack play in tournaments or non-turbo sngs will take too long. The reason is that the deep stack portion of the game will not last for long and due to the blind structure. I just want to work on deep stack play and the structure in cash games will help me out with that. I have to get a huge sample of hands in order to clearly see leaks ( no matter where I go on the net anything under a 50K sample is to small, even HM site agreed its data is not accurate without a large sample size). Cash games will allow me to not only stay at a stack size that will allow deep stack play, but also allow for the flexibility I will need with my new job (since I can walk away at any time and don’t have to worry about being stuck deep in a tournament when it’s time to go). I will still put in a SNG grind, but this will likely be on the weekends, and just to keep my roll afloat and my tournament basics up to par.

Once I am done I will seek a coach that will help me put this all together the basics, short stack play and deep stack play and help me crush the tournaments online. Well good luck me

Waiting on some Run GOOD!!!!!!

Sigh….. Still play through this down swing, but it’s really frustrating. The most frustrating thing about these downswings is that you don’t know how long they will last. Guess the only thing to do is keep studying and focus on my game. I try not to get frustrated, but holding it in may not be good also. It’s sick when you hit these bad stretches but I need to plan while I am down here. Along with my bankroll guides, I will also use some game selection to help ease the strain on my small bankroll at this point. Playing some STT and 18 man games to lower the variance and will pick up on the 45 mans when it seems I am running well. Of course if I drop down lower than $300 the I will play the $1.10 45mans. This is the sick times when you hate poker. Everyone loves poker when you’re crushing but doubt and tilt creep into your mind. Stay focus, plug my leaks and practice good bankroll management and of course this is all easier than done.

You can play good enough to succeed, but run bad enough to fail

Its five handed in a $3.40 18 man, and I am 4 of 5. The short stack shoves and I have 5bb and A9s and the blinds are about to go up. I think in my mind that I have been running so bad that there is no way I am ahead, and if I was ahead there’s no way I will win. I know I have to call this, its shorthanded and the blinds will eat me alive so I shove to ISO expect the player yet to act to wake up with a monster which would be pretty much standard the way I have been running. Both players fold and I am up against AKo, yup just what I expect time for his hand to hold and for me to bubble, thanks Poker Stars. I hit a 9 on the flop and the bubble breaks. This is an example of maintaining focus and playing correctly no matter how good or bad you’re running.

I could have easily folded in this spot hoping the blinds would wake up with a calling hand and I would limp into the money, but that would be a leak. When I am running badly I used to tighten up and play bad because of the fear that I am going to get unlucky. I know now that this has a negative effect on my game and my bankroll. Playing in a way that does not maximize my profitability over the long run will only make down swings worse. Sometime I have to understand that I can play good enough to succeed, but run bad enough to fail. Down swings and bad luck is a part of the game. Winning players understand this and don’t let these events change the way they play. All I have to do is use good bankroll management and keep studying to improve my game and the rest will take care of itself.

Looking to finish Oct off strong

Its only Oct 4th and this month is starting off on the wrong foot. I have been on a down swing for a couple of days starting at the end Sept and is continuing into this month. I am down to $559.82 and I am moving down from the Low stakes back to the micro in an effort to continue good bankroll management. I will set some goals this month that will hopefully help with my ultimate goal for the end of the year.

Bankroll rules to meet Oct goals:
$0 - $300 = $1.10, 45m - $1.10, 90m
$300 - $600 = $3.40, 18m - $3.25, 45m – 3.25, 90m
$600 - $900 = $6.50, 18m
$900+ = $6.50, 45m

These bankroll rules will allow me to stay aggressive with building a roll but also put enough Cushions to prevent me from going broke. I will still play 10 to 20 tables at a time and try to put in at least 4 to 6 hour sessions at a minimum. Boku87 said if you put in a lot of volume and continually work on your game then it is possible to build a huge roll. I intend to play too do just that. I hope to end the month with a 1.5K to 2K roll. It will take me running a little better but I will focus on playing better. And let the results take care of themselves.